As summer comes to an end, it’s easy to overlook the tiny creatures that help our gardens and landscapes thrive. Pollinators—such as native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects—play a crucial role in keeping plants healthy and our food supply secure. But what many people don’t realize is that these hardworking helpers need a safe place to rest during the colder months.
Winter is a time when many pollinators go into dormancy, hiding in hollow stems, wood crevices, and other sheltered spots to wait for warmer days. If they don’t have enough safe places to hibernate, their chances of survival drop, leading to fewer pollinators in spring. By helping now, you can ensure they reemerge strong, well-rested, and ready to do their job in the spring. Wondering what you can do to support them? Here are some ideas.
Simple Ways to Support Pollinators
Building a pollinator house is one of the simplest and most satisfying projects you can do this fall. It not only offers a cozy, dry shelter for native bees and other helpful insects, but also adds a handcrafted touch to your yard or garden. Here are two easy DIY options you can try:
Tin Can Bee Hotel
- Begin with a clean, dry, empty tin can.
- Paint the outside with non-toxic paint—it’s a fun way to get kids involved, too.
- Fill the can with tightly packed paper straws, rolled-up scrap paper, or tubes cut to fit.
- Add twigs or pine needles to fill in the gaps.
- Hang the can by a rope in a sunny, sheltered area.
Log with Holes
- Select an untreated hardwood log that is at least four inches thick.
- Cut it to a length of 8 to 10 inches.
- Use a drill to create holes of varying sizes (between 3/32 and 3/8 inches in diameter), 3 to 6 inches deep.
- Mount the log on a post or fence in a sunny, south-facing spot about three feet above the ground.
Both of these small projects provide safe havens for pollinators to overwinter. In spring, you’ll see the results as bees and other insects emerge to help revive your flowers, gardens, and even our Independence landscapes.
Why It Matters Here at Independence
Pollinators are more than just garden visitors—they’re vital parts of our ecosystem. By providing for them now, we support healthier gardens, stronger crops, and more lively green spaces across our community here in Elizabeth, CO. It’s a small act with a big impact, and it aligns perfectly with the values of sustainability and caring for nature that define life here at Independence.
Butterfly Pavilion has conducted surveys of pollinators in this neighborhood, which include sweat bees, the Colorado soldier beetle, blister beetles, bee flies, and the Nevada bumblebee. When you build a pollinator hotel, you’ll support solitary nesting bees, such as leafcutter bees, mason bees, cellophane bees, masked bees, and small carpenter bees. You can also plant native, pollinator-friendly plants such as Rocky Mountain bee plant, baby blue rabbitbrush, Englemann’s daisy, or plants from the mint family. These plants attract native species, which is our goal. Many people mistakenly plant mainly for honeybees, which can harm native pollinators. Russian sage is often praised as pollinator-friendly, but it mainly attracts honeybees, leading to competition for floral resources.
If you have any questions about pollinators, be sure to join us at upcoming Butterfly Pavilion events. We’ll provide updates on social media as we plan the next informational gatherings. Hope to see you there!
